The War Of The Vietnam War

Before the Vietnam war, Vietnam was in a revolution because they did not want to be ruled by France. Vietnam wanted to be independent right after World War II ended in 1945. Japan had control of them, when Japan surrendered to the Allies the French never left Vietnam and claimed it as a territory(Mintz).

Following the French return, the Communist regime of Vietnamese people had decided it was time for a rebellion and started waging war versus the French (Pendergast 14). With Vietnam’s neighbors to the north, China, following Russia’s principles and becoming a Communist nation, the Vietnamese Communist Regime, also known as the Viet Minh, gained strategic military support (Pendergast 15). The fighting between the Viet Minh and the French continued for many years and in the spring of 1954 the Viet Minh won a very decisive battle known as the Battle of Dien Bien Phu (Pendergast 17). This battle proved to bring the fighting between the French and Viet Minh to a close because in the summer of 1954 there was a conference held in Geneva, Switzerland to bring the fighting to a close (Pendergast 19). The results of this conference were the Geneva Accords which called for a temporary ceasefire, and a split of the country into a communist sector in the north and republic in the south along the 17th parallel (Pendergast 20). The plan however was not well liked and

The causes of the Vietnam War trails back to the end of World War II, when a French colony, in

The French were highly involved with Indochina (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) due to the abundant harvesting riches that were favorable with their own economy. Historically, Vietnam first established the communist party through the influence of China after their conversion into a Communist country in 1949. Ho Chi Min, a nationalist leader, had

As the war dragged on, it affected American society at nearly every level. It shook up

The French got this help by persuading the Americans they were combating communism. A 8-year guerrilla warfare occurs between the French and the Vietminh. 1954 The French make a heavily fortified base Dien Bien Phu they waited for Giap (general of the Vietminh) and the Vietminh troops to attack. Navarre the French general didn't think the Vietminh had heavy guns and with a surprise the Vietminh opened fire on the French with their artillery destroying the base and the Vietminh broke through the remains of the French lines and won the battle.

They were willing to put their lives on the line for their country. African Americans assumed that after being viewed as equals this would lead to more freedom in their daily lives. (Document 3) This was not the case though. Many wanted this and so they started the Double V Campaign. Double V stood for Double Victory. Their goal was to achieve a victory abroad and a victory at home. Those at war saw that this was not as easy as they wanted it to be. Corporal Rupert Trimmingham wrote about the treatment of African Americans compared to the treatment of enemies of the country. (Document 5) This showed that even the Germans were being treated better than them as they were American soldiers. This did not lead to opportunities or freedoms for them. It just showed that they had more battles to win and considering equal soldiers was one of

The war was different than any other America had fought in the past because many Americans didn’t even know why we were fighting in the war and many people didn’t support the decision for America to get involved in another nation’s problems. Also because this was a war many people died and these soldiers didn’t even know what they were dying for. This war caused a lot of damage to families and community in both nation and people started to take notice. In a song by the Rolling Stones the songs says “War, children, it's just a shot away It's just a shot away”(Doc J) To any American,no matter white or black, hearing theses lyrics come from a world renowned band would really it home and make you not like the war. As well as songs being writing about the war there were also painting demstrontig the dislikement for the war. In document E you see a picture of a flower and text stating “war is not healthy for our children and other living things”. This kind of photos made American think about the war a question it. No matter white,black.mexican or any other races all Americans can agree on that the most important thing to this nation and to them is the betterment of their

The resentment towards the war and draft heighted tensions socially because American families saw no valid reason for Americans to be sent to Vietnam only to anticipate them not

On May 4th, 1954 the French garison on their fortress at Dien Bien Phu finally surrendered to the Viet Minh communist revolution after many months, this was a big Conundrum to the US.

Vietnam in 1954 was a country that had nationalism flowing in their veins after the decades of being under French and for a short time the Japanese rule. All the Vietnamese wanted was to be its own country. The North started fighting back the French and did whatever they could to take back their homeland. The French were beginning to feel this under the numerous attacks the Vietnamese started against them. A number of nations met to determine how the French could peacefully withdraw. The Geneva Accords came from the meetings and a cease fire was initiated. The French left and their was a temporary division along the 17th parallel. A democratic election was to be held in 1956 that would reunite the country under one government.

The color of people they all faced further discrimination in the U.S. armed forces. The war began cause by the United State military segregation. “. They were so different from those of the colored officers and soldiers located in the Southern states”. Part of the white people they think they very support the war and they can not get any reward, also they think the military treat them different as the color

Opposition to the war came from both sides as it continued because they were expecting a quick, bloody-less victory. Most didn't like that fact that they were fighting to free the slaves, because they wanted to restore the Union and the war was becoming expensive. As the war progressed and began to cause more casualties civilian’s incapable of serving in the war had to take over the jobs left vacant by soldiers in the

The communist leader Ho Chi Minh led his forces based in the north and defeated the French in 1954. Agreements was signed, which divided the country into the pro-American South and communist north, with a demilitarized zone between them. Continue reading →

In the 1950's, the United States had begun to send troops to Vietnam and during the following 25-year period, the ensuing war would create some of the strongest tensions in US history. Almost 3 million US men and women were sent thousands of miles to fight for what was a questionable cause. In total, it is estimated that over 2 million people on both sides were killed.